I do believe that I have the world's ugliest garden this year. From the time I can remember, my family has had some form of a garden every summer. One of my favorite childhood memories was going with my dad out to the garden on summer evenings. My grandmother and her cousin had a large garden together every summer that I can remember. Sometimes it was on her land and other years it was on his. But regardless of who had the garden that year, it was large enough to feed several families.
Dad would come home after work and ask if I wanted to go with him to check on the garden. I can't ever remember telling him no. We would load up in his white suburban and head out towards West Camp just as the heat from the day was beginning to recoil. I'm not sure what all we did out there. Most of the time, I remember picking whatever was ripe and maybe pulling a weed or two. I remember one summer the coyotes found the watermelon and really like it! I don't know if it's that my memory is just bad or if the garden always looked good, I don't ever remember it being ugly.
Once I was an adult and owned my house, Myranda and I always made a spot for a garden. They were never as big as the ones I had as a kid, but they were big enough for us. We always had enough room for tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, squash, and maybe a watermelon. I enjoyed working in it. I loved watching the plants grow, hoeing the weeds, and watering it. Every year, I spent countless hours working in it and I don't remember it ever being ugly.
While we were in seminary, I didn't have a spot or the time to devote to a garden. I missed it immensely. That's why last spring I was so excited when I borrowed a rototiller and began to turn the soil again. I went to the store and bought my tomatoes and peppers. I dutifully planted squash and cucumbers. The spot is smaller here, so I didn't have room for as much, but we still had plenty of plants that we should have been able to share with others. But just as the vegetables were getting ready, the summer heat intensified. I couldn't keep enough water on them and the plants finally gave up. I did get a little bit of produce off and even shared some of it. But it just seemed like it was a big waste of time. I had decided not to have another garden this year. I had put a great amount of work into it and so it wasn't an ugly garden...it just couldn't make it.
But as all gardeners understand, the desire to sow and reap is just too strong. So this past spring I halfheartedly began again. I didn't borrow a tiller. In fact, I didn't even try very hard to disturb the soil. I told Myranda that I was trying a "no-till" approach to gardening. But in reality I didn't want to put all of the effort into it just to be disappointed again. Therefore, I have the ugliest garden I have ever seen. Bermuda grass is trying to invade all parts of the garden (the frustrating thing is I chose this spot because there was no Bermuda there). There is another kind of grass that I'm unfamiliar with that is sprouting up everywhere. The weeds are twice as bad as they should be because I didn't mulch like I normally do. So yes, my garden is ugly.
But there is something funny going on. It is actually producing. I picked the first tomato off the vine just this week. There are several more that are turning red. The peppers look good and strong. In fact, all of the plants are blooming their little hearts out. Now I know the lessons about weeds choking out the good plants and I am doing the best I can to keep the weeds at bay. No matter what I do to this garden it will be ugly. But, the thing is, the produce that comes from this garden is good. The tomato I proudly served on the supper table the other night was absolutely delicious!
This garden reminds me of a couple of things. First, it reminds me of when God called forth Samuel to anoint David king of Israel. When Samuel first saw Eliab, David's brother, Samuel just knew that God wanted him as king. But God said, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." Second, this ugly garden reminds me of something Jesus said, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and all kinds of filth. So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."
So I think this garden has to be one of my favorite ones. Yes, it takes a lot of work. It is very unappealing to the eyes. And it might quit producing at any time. But so far, it has reminded me that a vegetable garden is not primarily about beauty. It's about producing good fruit. As Christians, it would do us well to remember this. While we might have the world fooled in thinking that we are a beautiful garden, our produce is the indicator. St. Paul tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."
I want to be known as God's ugly garden. I don't mind looking like I do on the outside as long as my spiritual produce is good. Until next time...
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Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Thursday, June 27, 2013
For Whom The Bell Tolls
It is time for the Church to die. Yes, you read that correctly. A United Methodist Elder just admitted something that could potentially be an end to his profession. It really is time for the Church to die. Overall, we have lost our identity. We have become an utter failure in what we were raised up to do.
Now, before we go too much further, I want to clarify that I most certainly am not an advocate of the "emerging church" movement. I am not anti-denomination (after all, I am a United Methodist) and I don't want to see any particular denomination to overshadow all of the rest. I don't think the answer to the problems of the Western World rise and fall with whether or not our churches transform from denominational entities into non-denominational, free-from-man's-rules type worship groups. Even though I love small groups and promote them, I'm not even saying that the small-group cluster is the answer to Christianity's downward spiral. The only answer I see on the horizon is the death of the Church.
Now, let me see if I can explain this. Several times throughout the New Testament we are told things like this "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life."--St. Matthew 16:24b-26
I think Jesus meant these kinds of statements. I don't think he was talking in riddles or metaphor. I don't think he was trying to be over-dramatic in order to capture the people's attention so that they would listen to his teaching. I think he meant it. I really think that what he said about losing a life...dying...is what he wanted us to do.
But unlike the little boy in 6th Sense...I don't see dead people. I don't see very many people who claim Christ carrying crosses. Oh sure, we wear them around our necks, stick'em on our cars (next to our fish), and we even hang them on our walls. But I don't see people carrying them around. I don't see the Church being very inconvenienced. We sacrifice our money for things like new carpet, paint, and technology for our church, but we don't generally want to spend money on transients, homeless, or "illegal aliens." We choose politics over faith and television over Scripture. We think that family time means running around after our children for 18 years watching them in everything from sports to band concerts. Our family meals have transitioned from the dining room table into the living room. I don't think we're dying.
I wonder about a group of people who claim Christ...but only in the public sphere. We want the 10 Commandments posted on the courthouse lawn, prayer to be said at the beginning of athletic events, and even insist that God actually cares more about the people of the United States than he does for those living in hedonistic places like Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet, we don't pray at home (where we do have control). I seriously doubt many of our finest church-goers could recite the 10 commandments much less live up to them. And what was that we were told about our enemies?
I'm sure at this point you must be thinking that ministry has turned me cynical. No, not really. You see, I have fallen in love with Christ. And as such, even as broken as she is, I am in love with his bride. You know, the Church. More than anything it makes me sad.
It makes me sad that we...the Church...have become blind. We are blind to our calling. We are blind to the needs around us and the opportunities we have to serve. We claim to be committed to Christ, but only if the commitment comes at our convenience.
So there you have it. The only solution, as I see it, is for the Church to die. If the Church dies, then Christ will rise up a new creation. If each one of us will be honest with ourselves and ask God to show us where we need to die, he will do it. If we agree to lose our life for Christ's sake, then we will find the life that Jesus has called us to. The thing is, that if the Church refuses to die...if we refuse to die to ourselves and follow Christ...then we will gain the whole world and lose the only thing that really matters. As a Spirit filled entity, we will be gone forever. Resurrection, not resuscitation, is the answer to the mess we are currently in. If we do die to ourselves, only then we will live as God intends. Either way, our fate is sealed. In the words of John Donne, "therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee." Until next time...
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Now, before we go too much further, I want to clarify that I most certainly am not an advocate of the "emerging church" movement. I am not anti-denomination (after all, I am a United Methodist) and I don't want to see any particular denomination to overshadow all of the rest. I don't think the answer to the problems of the Western World rise and fall with whether or not our churches transform from denominational entities into non-denominational, free-from-man's-rules type worship groups. Even though I love small groups and promote them, I'm not even saying that the small-group cluster is the answer to Christianity's downward spiral. The only answer I see on the horizon is the death of the Church.
Now, let me see if I can explain this. Several times throughout the New Testament we are told things like this "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life."--St. Matthew 16:24b-26
I think Jesus meant these kinds of statements. I don't think he was talking in riddles or metaphor. I don't think he was trying to be over-dramatic in order to capture the people's attention so that they would listen to his teaching. I think he meant it. I really think that what he said about losing a life...dying...is what he wanted us to do.
But unlike the little boy in 6th Sense...I don't see dead people. I don't see very many people who claim Christ carrying crosses. Oh sure, we wear them around our necks, stick'em on our cars (next to our fish), and we even hang them on our walls. But I don't see people carrying them around. I don't see the Church being very inconvenienced. We sacrifice our money for things like new carpet, paint, and technology for our church, but we don't generally want to spend money on transients, homeless, or "illegal aliens." We choose politics over faith and television over Scripture. We think that family time means running around after our children for 18 years watching them in everything from sports to band concerts. Our family meals have transitioned from the dining room table into the living room. I don't think we're dying.
I wonder about a group of people who claim Christ...but only in the public sphere. We want the 10 Commandments posted on the courthouse lawn, prayer to be said at the beginning of athletic events, and even insist that God actually cares more about the people of the United States than he does for those living in hedonistic places like Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet, we don't pray at home (where we do have control). I seriously doubt many of our finest church-goers could recite the 10 commandments much less live up to them. And what was that we were told about our enemies?
I'm sure at this point you must be thinking that ministry has turned me cynical. No, not really. You see, I have fallen in love with Christ. And as such, even as broken as she is, I am in love with his bride. You know, the Church. More than anything it makes me sad.
It makes me sad that we...the Church...have become blind. We are blind to our calling. We are blind to the needs around us and the opportunities we have to serve. We claim to be committed to Christ, but only if the commitment comes at our convenience.
So there you have it. The only solution, as I see it, is for the Church to die. If the Church dies, then Christ will rise up a new creation. If each one of us will be honest with ourselves and ask God to show us where we need to die, he will do it. If we agree to lose our life for Christ's sake, then we will find the life that Jesus has called us to. The thing is, that if the Church refuses to die...if we refuse to die to ourselves and follow Christ...then we will gain the whole world and lose the only thing that really matters. As a Spirit filled entity, we will be gone forever. Resurrection, not resuscitation, is the answer to the mess we are currently in. If we do die to ourselves, only then we will live as God intends. Either way, our fate is sealed. In the words of John Donne, "therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee." Until next time...
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Thursday, June 20, 2013
Connections
Several years ago TLC had a series on the air called Connections. The host of the series, James Burke, would take an interesting approach to history. He would begin with some obscure historical fact or event and trace people, places, and other events through time. Essentially, what would happen is that while he would start the documentary by discussing tea in Dutch-ruled India, he would end the show with radio-astronomy. Topics discussed between the two would be diverse and all connected in some way or another.
I think God does something very similar in our lives as we move along our faith journey. To show how this works, I'm going to trace some connections that God has maneuvered in my own life...I'm going to connect a Muleshoe High School choir concert to how T.V. came to Haskell.
In 2005 I was deeply searching for where God wanted me to be. I was struggling with many different things spiritually. I knew that God loved me, I knew that he was calling me somewhere, but I had no idea where or what that entailed. That December, the choir teacher and band director were having their annual winter concert. Someone came up with the idea that it would be fun for the faculty to join the band and the choir in their final performance piece at their Sunday afternoon concert. So I agreed to donate my voice to the effort. A friend of mine, Sally Messenger, also had agreed to sing. At one of the practices she asked me if I would be willing to come and help her church out with their church choir when they sang their Christmas special at the Methodist Church. They were short male voices that year and so I agreed to go and help.
Since it was getting close to the performance, I was only able to make it to a couple of practices. The Sunday we were to sing was only the second time that I had ever gone to the Methodist Church on a Sunday morning. As I sat in the choir loft that morning, I really didn't know what to expect. The church service began and they went through a couple of typical church-y things. But then a short, balding man got up to offer a prayer. At the time, I had no idea who this guy was. When he began to pray (what I found out later is called the pastoral prayer) I was absolutely blown away. I had never heard anyone pray the way this man did. He actually prayed like he believed that God was listening to him!
I found out later that this man was the pastor of the church and his name was Monty Leavell. Now Monty was instrumental in helping me discern my calling into the ministry. He prayed with me, encouraged me, and kept up with all of the necessary paperwork and details that needed to be done for my candidacy process to proceed. When it came time to look into seminaries, there were several options. But truthfully I knew that there was only one option for me. I wanted to attend the school where Monty had gone...I wanted to be formed the same way he had been formed. That's why I went to Asbury.
When I was at seminary, I met all sorts of wonderful people. People who literally had come from all parts of the world. More amazing than that, Asbury was a place that sent people back out all over the world. As a part of their willingness to be a world-wide educational institution, the seminary began to work classes into international study. My good friend Tom had gone to Costa Rica with a leadership class the second January we were in Wilmore. He talked about it so much that he really inspired me to want to go. That fall, Tom and I took an Old Testament exegesis class together under a man named Michael Matlock. Towards the end of the semester, Dr. Matlock told us that he would be teaching a course in January. As a part of that course, the class would go to Costa Rica for study with the pastors in that country. Tom highly encouraged me to go. So after prayer, Myranda and I decided to go for it.
During that class I made some wonderful friends. One of the guys in the class was Ed Dickens. Now Ed spent most of his time on the Asbury campus in Orlando, so I had never met him before. But since he was living in Georgia, he was able to take this class with us in Kentucky. After we got to Costa Rica, Myranda and I really got to know Ed better. He's a great guy to be around and is so easy to work with. He has a great sense of humor and we really just clicked. After we got back from our trip, Ed decided to take a class or two in Wilmore for his last semester. So in the spring of 2011, I got to see Ed in chapel on a regular basis. In April of that year, I finally got a call from the district superintendent telling me that I was coming to Haskell as their pastor. While I was unfamiliar with Haskell, Ed knew all about it!
You see, Ed took several classes in Orlando. One of the professors in Orlando was raised in Haskell. Apparently, Dr. Steve Harper loved growing up in Haskell so much that he would often refer back to his home town. He would talk about being raised in a small West Texas town and the influence that the people in the community and especially in the United Methodist Church had on his formation as a person. I'll never forget the day I told Ed that I was going to Haskell. He got really excited and told me how wonderfully blessed I was to be going to that place. He encouraged me to get in contact with Dr. Harper and let him know who I was.
So right after I came to FUMC Haskell, I e-mailed Dr. Harper. He e-mailed me back a very nice and encouraging letter. To this day, I have never met Steve Harper. I hope that some day I will. But until then I get to share a connection with him that is very special to me. He and I know many of the same people. Every week I get to stand in the pulpit and preach to the same individuals and families with whom he has a long history. A few weeks ago Dr. Harper's newest book was released for sale. This book is called When TV Came to Town. I have yet to read the book, but it has made quite a splash here in Haskell. Several members of our congregation have read it and have thoroughly enjoyed it.
I don't believe in coincidences. I firmly believe that God places people in our lives for specific times and for specific reasons. At the time, we might not be able to see how the connections are taking place or why the connection is significant, but as we move forward with our spiritual life we might occasionally catch a glimpse of what he's doing. All of these people are connected to me and I to them in a wonderful way. They have contributed to my preaching, teaching, and pastoral ministry. While some of these people may not know each other, they are connected in a wonderful and miraculous way. I've discovered that whether we embrace the opportunities for us to know people or not is our choice. So I am choosing to know others...to be influenced by them...to grow in my relationships with others. I want God to connect me with others and to see how those connections serve his wider kingdom. I joyfully thank God for that choir concert in Muleshoe and how it led me to know how TV came to Haskell. Until next time...
For more information about Dr. Harper's book go to http://www.amazon.com/When-TV-Came-To-Town/dp/1482779358 or if you're on facebook check out the page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/When-TV-Came-To-Town/590367387649409?fref=ts
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I think God does something very similar in our lives as we move along our faith journey. To show how this works, I'm going to trace some connections that God has maneuvered in my own life...I'm going to connect a Muleshoe High School choir concert to how T.V. came to Haskell.
In 2005 I was deeply searching for where God wanted me to be. I was struggling with many different things spiritually. I knew that God loved me, I knew that he was calling me somewhere, but I had no idea where or what that entailed. That December, the choir teacher and band director were having their annual winter concert. Someone came up with the idea that it would be fun for the faculty to join the band and the choir in their final performance piece at their Sunday afternoon concert. So I agreed to donate my voice to the effort. A friend of mine, Sally Messenger, also had agreed to sing. At one of the practices she asked me if I would be willing to come and help her church out with their church choir when they sang their Christmas special at the Methodist Church. They were short male voices that year and so I agreed to go and help.
Since it was getting close to the performance, I was only able to make it to a couple of practices. The Sunday we were to sing was only the second time that I had ever gone to the Methodist Church on a Sunday morning. As I sat in the choir loft that morning, I really didn't know what to expect. The church service began and they went through a couple of typical church-y things. But then a short, balding man got up to offer a prayer. At the time, I had no idea who this guy was. When he began to pray (what I found out later is called the pastoral prayer) I was absolutely blown away. I had never heard anyone pray the way this man did. He actually prayed like he believed that God was listening to him!
I found out later that this man was the pastor of the church and his name was Monty Leavell. Now Monty was instrumental in helping me discern my calling into the ministry. He prayed with me, encouraged me, and kept up with all of the necessary paperwork and details that needed to be done for my candidacy process to proceed. When it came time to look into seminaries, there were several options. But truthfully I knew that there was only one option for me. I wanted to attend the school where Monty had gone...I wanted to be formed the same way he had been formed. That's why I went to Asbury.
When I was at seminary, I met all sorts of wonderful people. People who literally had come from all parts of the world. More amazing than that, Asbury was a place that sent people back out all over the world. As a part of their willingness to be a world-wide educational institution, the seminary began to work classes into international study. My good friend Tom had gone to Costa Rica with a leadership class the second January we were in Wilmore. He talked about it so much that he really inspired me to want to go. That fall, Tom and I took an Old Testament exegesis class together under a man named Michael Matlock. Towards the end of the semester, Dr. Matlock told us that he would be teaching a course in January. As a part of that course, the class would go to Costa Rica for study with the pastors in that country. Tom highly encouraged me to go. So after prayer, Myranda and I decided to go for it.
During that class I made some wonderful friends. One of the guys in the class was Ed Dickens. Now Ed spent most of his time on the Asbury campus in Orlando, so I had never met him before. But since he was living in Georgia, he was able to take this class with us in Kentucky. After we got to Costa Rica, Myranda and I really got to know Ed better. He's a great guy to be around and is so easy to work with. He has a great sense of humor and we really just clicked. After we got back from our trip, Ed decided to take a class or two in Wilmore for his last semester. So in the spring of 2011, I got to see Ed in chapel on a regular basis. In April of that year, I finally got a call from the district superintendent telling me that I was coming to Haskell as their pastor. While I was unfamiliar with Haskell, Ed knew all about it!
You see, Ed took several classes in Orlando. One of the professors in Orlando was raised in Haskell. Apparently, Dr. Steve Harper loved growing up in Haskell so much that he would often refer back to his home town. He would talk about being raised in a small West Texas town and the influence that the people in the community and especially in the United Methodist Church had on his formation as a person. I'll never forget the day I told Ed that I was going to Haskell. He got really excited and told me how wonderfully blessed I was to be going to that place. He encouraged me to get in contact with Dr. Harper and let him know who I was.
So right after I came to FUMC Haskell, I e-mailed Dr. Harper. He e-mailed me back a very nice and encouraging letter. To this day, I have never met Steve Harper. I hope that some day I will. But until then I get to share a connection with him that is very special to me. He and I know many of the same people. Every week I get to stand in the pulpit and preach to the same individuals and families with whom he has a long history. A few weeks ago Dr. Harper's newest book was released for sale. This book is called When TV Came to Town. I have yet to read the book, but it has made quite a splash here in Haskell. Several members of our congregation have read it and have thoroughly enjoyed it.
I don't believe in coincidences. I firmly believe that God places people in our lives for specific times and for specific reasons. At the time, we might not be able to see how the connections are taking place or why the connection is significant, but as we move forward with our spiritual life we might occasionally catch a glimpse of what he's doing. All of these people are connected to me and I to them in a wonderful way. They have contributed to my preaching, teaching, and pastoral ministry. While some of these people may not know each other, they are connected in a wonderful and miraculous way. I've discovered that whether we embrace the opportunities for us to know people or not is our choice. So I am choosing to know others...to be influenced by them...to grow in my relationships with others. I want God to connect me with others and to see how those connections serve his wider kingdom. I joyfully thank God for that choir concert in Muleshoe and how it led me to know how TV came to Haskell. Until next time...
For more information about Dr. Harper's book go to http://www.amazon.com/When-TV-Came-To-Town/dp/1482779358 or if you're on facebook check out the page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/When-TV-Came-To-Town/590367387649409?fref=ts
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Friday, June 7, 2013
Ordination (AKA The Beginning of An Era)
Last week at this time, I was contemplating my upcoming ordination. I looked to the past and recounted the last several years that led up to this point in my life. I anticipated what it would mean to be ordained as an Elder in the United Methodist Church. But what I've come to understand and appreciate is that ordination is a moment in time. It is a good point to reflect upon where God has been leading me and begin to wonder where he will take me next. It also has spurred me on to think about transitions and new beginnings.
One of those new beginnings was in our episcopal leadership at this year's conference. The Northwest Texas Conference recently was appointed a new bishop. It was interesting to see how Bishop Bledsoe leads, how he interacts with people, and how he preaches and teaches. Our new bishop brought a lot of energy and excitement to conference. He also brought high expectations of us...both clergy and laity.
As we moved forward with conference, I found myself getting more and more excited. The reports, the opportunities for ministry, and the financial health of our denomination is looking better than it has. The staff of our conference office is intentionally seeking out ways to be a part of our ministries as United Methodists. They are listening to the needs and challenges of the local churches. And what impressed me the most is that they are being proactive in making a way for new ways of working and communicating.
Finally, on Wednesday night, it was time for the ordination service. I guess in some ways I found myself nervous. I was ready to move forward with the final goal of ordination. And when it came time for the Bishops and others to place their hands on me, I really didn't know how I would feel. The one word that comes to mind that happened at that exact moment was the word "heavy." As the leadership of our denomination laid hands on me, I literally felt the weight of the situation. It was as though the entire burden of what it means to be in ministry was being placed upon my shoulders. As Bishop Bledsoe said "Dustin Wilhite, take thou authority..." the overwhelming responsibilities, expectations, challenges, and opportunities collided. It was at that moment that I realized that ordination is not the end of a seven year process where I was now going to be able to rest on my education and spiritual growth. Ordination was simply a stopping point on the journey of being in full-time ministry. It was a point where I could gather up my courage so that more ministry, more love, and more of Christ could be poured into who I am as a person and as a pastor; not for myself, but for those whom I'm sent to serve.
On the last day of conference, Bishop Bledsoe preached a wonderful sermon on the Transfiguration of Christ on the mountain. It was during this sermon that all of what had happened to me leading me up to this particular conference meeting began fully to make sense. The ordination service was a special moment in my life. It was a marker along my spiritual path where I joyfully shared a moment in time with three other men. But it wasn't just an ending; it was also a beginning. It was the beginning of a new part of my ministry and a new way of being held responsible for my actions and decisions.
So with all this newness around me, I remember the beauty of God's wondrous grace as he leads us through our lives. In order for something new to come about, the old must pass away. While it's hard sometimes to let go of the old, the familiar, the comfortable, we must let go in order to continue to move forward. We must learn to embrace changes and learn how to minister wherever we find ourselves.
In his sermon, the bishop said that we can't freeze moments in time like Peter tried to do on the mountaintop. Instead, we have to enjoy the moment, pray, and move back down the mountain in order to do ministry. So while ordination was a point in my life that I would like to have frozen in time, I can't. It's a moment I will always remember and cherish. But it's also a moment where I cannot live.
LORD, our God, I ask in the name of Jesus Christ that you help each one of us to move forward. Help us to embrace the newness of life each day. Give us the strength to step outside of ourselves in order to be made into the likeness of your blessed Son. While we may remember those special times of mountaintops, send us into the valley for ministry. And help us to never say, "But we've never done it like that before." We pray this to you our glorious Father, through your glorious Son Jesus Christ, by the power and authority of the the Holy Spirit. Amen
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One of those new beginnings was in our episcopal leadership at this year's conference. The Northwest Texas Conference recently was appointed a new bishop. It was interesting to see how Bishop Bledsoe leads, how he interacts with people, and how he preaches and teaches. Our new bishop brought a lot of energy and excitement to conference. He also brought high expectations of us...both clergy and laity.
As we moved forward with conference, I found myself getting more and more excited. The reports, the opportunities for ministry, and the financial health of our denomination is looking better than it has. The staff of our conference office is intentionally seeking out ways to be a part of our ministries as United Methodists. They are listening to the needs and challenges of the local churches. And what impressed me the most is that they are being proactive in making a way for new ways of working and communicating.
Finally, on Wednesday night, it was time for the ordination service. I guess in some ways I found myself nervous. I was ready to move forward with the final goal of ordination. And when it came time for the Bishops and others to place their hands on me, I really didn't know how I would feel. The one word that comes to mind that happened at that exact moment was the word "heavy." As the leadership of our denomination laid hands on me, I literally felt the weight of the situation. It was as though the entire burden of what it means to be in ministry was being placed upon my shoulders. As Bishop Bledsoe said "Dustin Wilhite, take thou authority..." the overwhelming responsibilities, expectations, challenges, and opportunities collided. It was at that moment that I realized that ordination is not the end of a seven year process where I was now going to be able to rest on my education and spiritual growth. Ordination was simply a stopping point on the journey of being in full-time ministry. It was a point where I could gather up my courage so that more ministry, more love, and more of Christ could be poured into who I am as a person and as a pastor; not for myself, but for those whom I'm sent to serve.
On the last day of conference, Bishop Bledsoe preached a wonderful sermon on the Transfiguration of Christ on the mountain. It was during this sermon that all of what had happened to me leading me up to this particular conference meeting began fully to make sense. The ordination service was a special moment in my life. It was a marker along my spiritual path where I joyfully shared a moment in time with three other men. But it wasn't just an ending; it was also a beginning. It was the beginning of a new part of my ministry and a new way of being held responsible for my actions and decisions.
So with all this newness around me, I remember the beauty of God's wondrous grace as he leads us through our lives. In order for something new to come about, the old must pass away. While it's hard sometimes to let go of the old, the familiar, the comfortable, we must let go in order to continue to move forward. We must learn to embrace changes and learn how to minister wherever we find ourselves.
In his sermon, the bishop said that we can't freeze moments in time like Peter tried to do on the mountaintop. Instead, we have to enjoy the moment, pray, and move back down the mountain in order to do ministry. So while ordination was a point in my life that I would like to have frozen in time, I can't. It's a moment I will always remember and cherish. But it's also a moment where I cannot live.
LORD, our God, I ask in the name of Jesus Christ that you help each one of us to move forward. Help us to embrace the newness of life each day. Give us the strength to step outside of ourselves in order to be made into the likeness of your blessed Son. While we may remember those special times of mountaintops, send us into the valley for ministry. And help us to never say, "But we've never done it like that before." We pray this to you our glorious Father, through your glorious Son Jesus Christ, by the power and authority of the the Holy Spirit. Amen
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Friday, May 31, 2013
Ordination (AKA The End of An Era)
A seven year process is about to come to an end. This coming Wednesday, I will be ordained as an Elder in the United Methodist Church. This whole thing started when I finally felt like my life was in order. Myranda and I had three beautiful daughters, I was teaching in the high school where I had graduated, and Myranda had a job she throughly enjoyed. After the LORD called me into the ministry, I began the process of ordination. At the time, I'm not sure I really understood what that meant. I didn't know how I would grow and change as I met with Derrell Evins and he led me through the candidate process. I will always be grateful to Derrell and his willingness to meet, to encourage, and to be a voice of wisdom throughout those early weeks of this journey.
I also didn't understand the role of a pastor as I watched and learned from Monty Leavell. I'm not sure he ever knew how much I admired him as my pastor. He always had time to visit with me. He was willing to share his experience, his pulpit, and his Bible classes with me. He continually encouraged me to seek the LORD's direction and he always was honest with me. I never felt anything but love and pride as he prepared me for the next step of seminary.
And when the time finally came, it was more difficult than I thought it would be to leave the 'shoe. I guess a part of me knew that I wouldn't ever really return there. For the first time, it dawned on me that once seminary was over, I would not be coming back to my home and my church. But on a July morning, we pulled out of town in a parade of clothes, kids, a cat, and parents. We trekked across the country not even knowing what our house looked like, any people, or even what we were really doing. I'll never forget the day that I thought we had made a huge mistake. Myranda had not yet found a job, the girls' school was starting in just a few days, and we were completely broke. We knew we needed to get them school supplies and we also knew that we didn't have the money for it. So we made a list of only the barest essentials to get them started and headed out the door to go school shopping.
For whatever reason (I believe by the prompting of the Holy Spirit), I peeked in the mailbox before we left. There was one letter in the box. In the upper left-hand corner was a cross and flame logo with FUMC Muleshoe next to it. I opened the letter and I wept. For in that envelope was a letter that simply stated that our church was 100% behind us as we began this adventure. Wrapped up in the letter was a check. The check was enough to cover ALL the girls' school supplies and a little left over to buy groceries. But what was even more amazing than that was that for the next three years, the church did not fail to mail a letter of encouragement and a check to help cover expenses and pay bills. In my entire life, I had never felt that kind of love from a church. I am so deeply indebted to FUMC Muleshoe for everything they did and their willingness to support us financially and with prayer.
Seminary was nothing that I expected it to be. To be honest, I'm not sure what I expected. But it was something that changed my life. It challenged me, it tore at me, and many times it wiped me out. But it also was a deep journey of faith, hope, and love. Some of the people in my seminary classes became my best friends. Tom Snyder is one of them. Tom is a man who started seminary the same semester I did. We took classes together. We discussed lessons, worked on projects, and lamented the amount of reading and writing expected of us. Yet, we endured. We both walked through a valley of the shadow of death and experienced a new birth of thought, life, and spiritual formation. My life is forever united with Tom. Because, not only did we begin seminary together, we ended it together. He and I walked across the stage on the same day. He returned to Michigan and I to Texas, but I still consider him one of my best friends and I miss seeing him immensely.
Then it was time to move again. This time we drug four beautiful daughters, a cat, and a dog back to Texas. We rolled into Haskell for our first appointment. Excited and a bit apprehensive, I began to meet my new church. The last two years have been a whirlwind. I have had many firsts here. My first church funeral was a week after I arrived. My first time to consecrate the Blessed Sacrament was in our historic sanctuary. My first baptism was of a young man I love and respect. I have taught my first confirmation class and been integrated into the life of this wonderful congregation. The gracious folks of Haskell UMC have let me make mistakes. They have forgiven me for my trespasses and they have loved me in spite of my frailties. While we have disagreed at times, we have done so in love and in the grace of Christ. They have embraced my family and me with open arms and we have grown to love them so very much. My journey with them has been amazing.
As I said, this part of my journey is coming to a close. In just a few days I will no longer be a provisional elder. I will once again take vows to the church. At my final meeting with the Board of Ordained ministry, one of the elders I have recently come to know and respect asked me a question that I wasn't quite sure how to answer. She asked, "What does it mean for you to be ordained? What does it mean for you to be in the Order of Elders?" Mindy, if you're reading this, I have really contemplated that question since that meeting. I'm not sure I still have the "right" answer. The rest of the story is that I'm not sure I'll have the right answer on the day I'm ordained, the day after, or even ten years later. But one thing I do know is that God has led me here. He got me through those days of no money in the bank by sending us a check. He got me through the dark days of seminary by sending me a friend. He has gotten me through the entire process through my amazing wife and my beautiful daughters who have had to sacrifice so much for this journey. While they may not know it, I admire them so much for never complaining, always supporting, and continually loving me and the church despite their sacrifices.
A really good friend of mine (and fellow pastor) was ordained last year. A note arrived from him today in the mail (Ryan Strebeck is one of the last people I know who actually hand writes and mails real letters). Ryan has been on this journey with me for the last several years and knows the process of ordination as well as anyone. In this letter he said this, "It (ordination) is all a mystery, that's for sure. But what we know is that it's some form of covenant and it involves Christ's Church so it's Holy and it's beautiful and I'm proud to know a man like you in this context." I guess that's where I am with the whole thing too. I'm in a place where I know that God has been acting and continues to act in my life, both personally and as a pastor. I also firmly believe that God will do something amazing on Wednesday night when the Bishop lays hands on me and ordains me in Christ's Holy Church. Whether I feel any differently or not won't matter. What I am coming to lean on more and more are John Wesley's final words before he passed from this life to immortal life. "The best of all, God is with us." I couldn't have said it better myself.
The Sunday before we left for seminary, two of our best friends sent us away with this song. Kenneth and Toni King first showed me the depth of God's love. I now share this song with all you reading this blog. Whether you were mentioned in this blog or not, you most certainly have been a part of this journey. For your love and support, I always will be eternally grateful. I now joyfully dedicate this song to each one of you who has been a part of this journey. It's for those who have shown unconditional love and those who have gone beyond the norm to help see me through this process. It's for those who sacrificed, offered wisdom, and let me vent. It's for those who have no idea how much you influenced me. It's for those who have stood beside me and even held me up when I was weak and tired. You are my brothers and my sisters and always remember, the best of all, God is with us. Until next time...
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Thursday, March 14, 2013
United Methodists and Pope Francis
So the last couple of weeks have been rather interesting across the Christian world. Something that hadn't happened in about 600 years happened...the Bishop of Rome resigned his position over the Church. I must admit, I was taken by surprise when he did. There are some things that just aren't supposed to happen. There are certain parts of life that are supposed to stay the same and the Pope serving until his death is one of them. One of the first responses that I heard from various people is "Why should we care? We're not Catholic!" While I understand where that sentiment comes from, I can't agree with it.
Whether we like it or not, all Christian churches have their roots in the historical church that dates back over 2,000 years. When you take time to study Church history, you see where various doctrines and practices come from. You begin to understand the layers and layers of meaning that dwell within the Church. One of my favorite quotes comes from a Church historian when he said this about the Church's past, "Without understanding that past, we are unable to understand ourselves, for in a sense the past still lives in us and influences who we are and how we understand the Christian message...When we stand, sit, or kneel in church, when we sing a hymn, recite a creed, or refuse to recite one, when we build a church or preach a sermon, a past of which we may not be aware is one of the factors involved in our actions."--Justo Gonzalez
So with that in mind, what does it mean to a United Methodist that the cardinals of the Roman Church have elected a new Bishop of Rome? Well, for starters, it means that 1.2 billion of our brothers and sisters in Christ have a new shepherd. In many ways, the Catholic Church and the Methodist Church are set up in a similar manner. The Catholic Church is connectional...so are we. Recently, my annual conference went through a period of unknown. In the UMC, it is rare for us to go without a pastor or bishop. However, this last session of bishop appointments hit a snag. And for reasons that are unimportant, the Northwest Texas Annual Conference was without a permanent appointed bishop for a few months. It was a rather unusual time for us. As far as I know, it has been the only time in the history of Methodism that something like this had happened. The local churches continued to minister and our conference leadership continued to lead, but it was a bit odd not to have a bishop. When our bishop was finally appointed to us, it was much better. While I still haven't met him, it really doesn't matter. Just knowing that we have a shepherd over us makes me feel better. It brings me peace of mind to have someone in that office. So I empathize with my Catholic brothers and sisters. In many ways, we are in the same boat. Neither of us knows in which direction our leader will take us and yet we trust the Holy Spirit to lead and guide these men. We believe that God is active and that he is instrumental in the decisions that these men are making.
Another reason that we United Methodists should care about the Catholic Church's recent ordeal is that the world is watching. Since there are so many Catholics across the globe and since the Catholic Church has been a major force in world history, the secular world pays careful attention to what happens and how other Christians respond to what has happened. An event like this gives all of us who claim Christ a chance to witness to our devotion to Christ and our love for one another. What I find impressive is when Church leaders from other denominations take time to express their well-wishes to the newly elected Pope Francis. One of my favorites comes from the newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who said this, "We have long since recognised-and often reaffirmed-that our churches hold a special place for one another. I look forward to meeting Pope Francis, and to walking and working together to build on the consistent legacy of our predecessors." And here is the official response from the Council of Bishops of the UMC, "We, the people of The United Methodist Church, are ready to continue the journey with the Roman Catholic Church, praying for one another, staying in respectful dialogue with one another, knowing of the differences but believing that Christ unites us." (Bishop Rosemarie Wenner-president of The United Methodist Council of Bishops.)*
And finally, we United Methodists should care because we are all on the same side. Christ is our Lord. We all believe in one God in three persons. We all pray that the Father will lead us...that the Son will show us...that the Holy Spirit will guide us. All of us who profess Christ are living in a world that is becoming increasingly hostile toward us. We live in a time that those who oppose the Church are becoming bolder. We live in a time where people who don't believe in God are no longer atheists...they are anti-theists. Not only do these people not want to believe in God, they are actively seeking out to destroy our faith in God. Instead of the in-fighting of the past, our various denominations must seek out harmony and unity. While it can be difficult to heal past wounds, that is what we must do. We must apologize to each other and we must seek reconciliation. While we may not agree on everything theologically, that's okay. My wife and I don't always agree theologically, and yet we continue to live together, to love one another, and to work together.
So I lift up my prayers...my voice with the countless others across the globe to congratulate the Catholic Church on her new leader. I sincerely hope that Pope Francis continues to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance as he leads. I hope he feels love and support from the United Methodist Church, from our bishops, our clergy, and our laity. And I pray that God continues to unite us as brothers and sisters of the faith and that our witness resounds the world over.
I invite you to pray this prayer written by Taylor W. Burton-Edwards for Pope Francis:
Gracious God,
look with favor on your servant, Jorge,
now elected Francis, Pope of the Roman Catholic Church,
that he may lead with great faithfulness and compassion
among the people entrusted to his care,
and be a sign of the unity and hope
for which Christ prayed
for all your people, in every Church and land;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
One God, now and ever. Amen.**
Until next time...
*You can read the entire article at http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=5259669&ct=13021863
**"Prayer for a Pope" by Taylor W. Burton-Edwards.
Copyright (c) 2013 , The General Board of Discipleship
of the United Methodist Church. Used by permission.
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Whether we like it or not, all Christian churches have their roots in the historical church that dates back over 2,000 years. When you take time to study Church history, you see where various doctrines and practices come from. You begin to understand the layers and layers of meaning that dwell within the Church. One of my favorite quotes comes from a Church historian when he said this about the Church's past, "Without understanding that past, we are unable to understand ourselves, for in a sense the past still lives in us and influences who we are and how we understand the Christian message...When we stand, sit, or kneel in church, when we sing a hymn, recite a creed, or refuse to recite one, when we build a church or preach a sermon, a past of which we may not be aware is one of the factors involved in our actions."--Justo Gonzalez
So with that in mind, what does it mean to a United Methodist that the cardinals of the Roman Church have elected a new Bishop of Rome? Well, for starters, it means that 1.2 billion of our brothers and sisters in Christ have a new shepherd. In many ways, the Catholic Church and the Methodist Church are set up in a similar manner. The Catholic Church is connectional...so are we. Recently, my annual conference went through a period of unknown. In the UMC, it is rare for us to go without a pastor or bishop. However, this last session of bishop appointments hit a snag. And for reasons that are unimportant, the Northwest Texas Annual Conference was without a permanent appointed bishop for a few months. It was a rather unusual time for us. As far as I know, it has been the only time in the history of Methodism that something like this had happened. The local churches continued to minister and our conference leadership continued to lead, but it was a bit odd not to have a bishop. When our bishop was finally appointed to us, it was much better. While I still haven't met him, it really doesn't matter. Just knowing that we have a shepherd over us makes me feel better. It brings me peace of mind to have someone in that office. So I empathize with my Catholic brothers and sisters. In many ways, we are in the same boat. Neither of us knows in which direction our leader will take us and yet we trust the Holy Spirit to lead and guide these men. We believe that God is active and that he is instrumental in the decisions that these men are making.
Another reason that we United Methodists should care about the Catholic Church's recent ordeal is that the world is watching. Since there are so many Catholics across the globe and since the Catholic Church has been a major force in world history, the secular world pays careful attention to what happens and how other Christians respond to what has happened. An event like this gives all of us who claim Christ a chance to witness to our devotion to Christ and our love for one another. What I find impressive is when Church leaders from other denominations take time to express their well-wishes to the newly elected Pope Francis. One of my favorites comes from the newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who said this, "We have long since recognised-and often reaffirmed-that our churches hold a special place for one another. I look forward to meeting Pope Francis, and to walking and working together to build on the consistent legacy of our predecessors." And here is the official response from the Council of Bishops of the UMC, "We, the people of The United Methodist Church, are ready to continue the journey with the Roman Catholic Church, praying for one another, staying in respectful dialogue with one another, knowing of the differences but believing that Christ unites us." (Bishop Rosemarie Wenner-president of The United Methodist Council of Bishops.)*
And finally, we United Methodists should care because we are all on the same side. Christ is our Lord. We all believe in one God in three persons. We all pray that the Father will lead us...that the Son will show us...that the Holy Spirit will guide us. All of us who profess Christ are living in a world that is becoming increasingly hostile toward us. We live in a time that those who oppose the Church are becoming bolder. We live in a time where people who don't believe in God are no longer atheists...they are anti-theists. Not only do these people not want to believe in God, they are actively seeking out to destroy our faith in God. Instead of the in-fighting of the past, our various denominations must seek out harmony and unity. While it can be difficult to heal past wounds, that is what we must do. We must apologize to each other and we must seek reconciliation. While we may not agree on everything theologically, that's okay. My wife and I don't always agree theologically, and yet we continue to live together, to love one another, and to work together.
So I lift up my prayers...my voice with the countless others across the globe to congratulate the Catholic Church on her new leader. I sincerely hope that Pope Francis continues to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance as he leads. I hope he feels love and support from the United Methodist Church, from our bishops, our clergy, and our laity. And I pray that God continues to unite us as brothers and sisters of the faith and that our witness resounds the world over.
I invite you to pray this prayer written by Taylor W. Burton-Edwards for Pope Francis:
Gracious God,
look with favor on your servant, Jorge,
now elected Francis, Pope of the Roman Catholic Church,
that he may lead with great faithfulness and compassion
among the people entrusted to his care,
and be a sign of the unity and hope
for which Christ prayed
for all your people, in every Church and land;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
One God, now and ever. Amen.**
Until next time...
*You can read the entire article at http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=5259669&ct=13021863
**"Prayer for a Pope" by Taylor W. Burton-Edwards.
Copyright (c) 2013 , The General Board of Discipleship
of the United Methodist Church. Used by permission.
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Thursday, March 7, 2013
The Lost
This week's lectionary readings really helped me to grow spiritually. They pushed me to see past my own short-sightedness and to make some connections I had not made before. The first story that leads up to the Scripture reading for this Sunday is the parable of the lost sheep. You probably remember that Jesus told this story about the sheep who was lost (hence, the title). The shepherd left the 99 sheep that he had and went to search for the one that was lost. The shepherd does not leave the 99 in a pen or in a safe place...he leaves them "...in the wilderness..." The wilderness is a hostile place. It's a place of the unknown. It's the place where the children of Israel wandered and where Jesus was tempted. But the shepherd leaves his flock to search for the lost sheep.
The second story is the parable of the lost coin. In this story, a woman has ten silver coins. Somehow, she loses one of them and begins to search for it. She looks under furniture, through drawers, anywhere she can think of that the coin may have been placed. She is so determined to find it, that she even lights a lamp in order to give her more light in her search.
At this point you're probably thinking, "Okay, Dustin...so what? We've heard these stories before. We know what they mean! God's love is so great that he will go through whatever it takes in order to find us. He continues to search for the lost sheep. Like a valuable coin, so are people. There's nothing new here." Well, that is part of what Jesus is saying here. But it's really not the full story.
In order to better understand why he told these stories, we have to look at the entire context. Last week we talked about repentance. In fact, the entire season of Lent pushes us in that direction. And while a case could be made that these stories are about repentance, if that is our primary focus, then we are woefully missing Jesus' point. Let's look at the final lines of both parables.
In St. Luke 15: 7, Jesus finishes the story with "Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." And in verse 10 he says, "Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Do you hear the repetition here? The main focus of these stories cannot be the repentance, it must be something else. After all a sheep might be able to repent, but there is no way that a coin can! So what is it that these stories are really pointing towards? The key word in both of these stories is "rejoice."
Rejoice, or joy, is something that we may not always understand in our culture. In the Jewish culture of the 1st century, rejoicing was a flamboyant, outward expression of the inner excitement that they felt. Many times rejoicing was evident through shouting, singing, clapping, dancing, and feasting. In other words, it was a huge party!
That's what Jesus was saying happened after the sheep and the coin were found. The shepherd invited his shepherd friends over to party with him. The woman invited her neighbors over to party with her. His point is that when the lost are found then God invites all of his people to a huge party! With singing, shouting, dancing, and clapping of hands, God, the angels, and the children of God join together with a great celebration.
That leads us to the third parable in the series...the parable of the lost son (many of us know this one as the parable of the prodigal son). Once again, the story isn't so much about the boy's repentance as much as it is about the celebration of the father. It's also about the invitation to party for the lost being found.
I'm afraid that those of us in the Church have lost sight of what it means to rejoice and to be filled with joy. But you see, the shared joy that we have with our Father and with our brothers and sisters is what sets apart our fellowship as Christians. We should get excited; we should celebrate; we should outwardly express our joy in our own salvation and the salvation that God is bringing to all who will accept it. God's joy must be our joy. The joy of our brothers and sisters must be our joy. If it's not, then maybe we're more like the scribes and Pharisees who sit on the edge of the room and are "grumbling." It's our choice. We can either celebrate or we can live a life of misery. I would much rather celebrate than to complain. Here's how I envision God calling to us as his children to join the festivities: http://youtu.be/3GwjfUFyY6M
Until next time...
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The second story is the parable of the lost coin. In this story, a woman has ten silver coins. Somehow, she loses one of them and begins to search for it. She looks under furniture, through drawers, anywhere she can think of that the coin may have been placed. She is so determined to find it, that she even lights a lamp in order to give her more light in her search.
At this point you're probably thinking, "Okay, Dustin...so what? We've heard these stories before. We know what they mean! God's love is so great that he will go through whatever it takes in order to find us. He continues to search for the lost sheep. Like a valuable coin, so are people. There's nothing new here." Well, that is part of what Jesus is saying here. But it's really not the full story.
In order to better understand why he told these stories, we have to look at the entire context. Last week we talked about repentance. In fact, the entire season of Lent pushes us in that direction. And while a case could be made that these stories are about repentance, if that is our primary focus, then we are woefully missing Jesus' point. Let's look at the final lines of both parables.
In St. Luke 15: 7, Jesus finishes the story with "Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." And in verse 10 he says, "Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Do you hear the repetition here? The main focus of these stories cannot be the repentance, it must be something else. After all a sheep might be able to repent, but there is no way that a coin can! So what is it that these stories are really pointing towards? The key word in both of these stories is "rejoice."
Rejoice, or joy, is something that we may not always understand in our culture. In the Jewish culture of the 1st century, rejoicing was a flamboyant, outward expression of the inner excitement that they felt. Many times rejoicing was evident through shouting, singing, clapping, dancing, and feasting. In other words, it was a huge party!
That's what Jesus was saying happened after the sheep and the coin were found. The shepherd invited his shepherd friends over to party with him. The woman invited her neighbors over to party with her. His point is that when the lost are found then God invites all of his people to a huge party! With singing, shouting, dancing, and clapping of hands, God, the angels, and the children of God join together with a great celebration.
That leads us to the third parable in the series...the parable of the lost son (many of us know this one as the parable of the prodigal son). Once again, the story isn't so much about the boy's repentance as much as it is about the celebration of the father. It's also about the invitation to party for the lost being found.
I'm afraid that those of us in the Church have lost sight of what it means to rejoice and to be filled with joy. But you see, the shared joy that we have with our Father and with our brothers and sisters is what sets apart our fellowship as Christians. We should get excited; we should celebrate; we should outwardly express our joy in our own salvation and the salvation that God is bringing to all who will accept it. God's joy must be our joy. The joy of our brothers and sisters must be our joy. If it's not, then maybe we're more like the scribes and Pharisees who sit on the edge of the room and are "grumbling." It's our choice. We can either celebrate or we can live a life of misery. I would much rather celebrate than to complain. Here's how I envision God calling to us as his children to join the festivities: http://youtu.be/3GwjfUFyY6M
Until next time...
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Thursday, February 28, 2013
Fire and Figs
"A man owned a fig tree planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none. He said to his gardener, 'Look, I've come looking for fruit on this fig tree for the past three years, and I've never found any. Cut it down! Why should it continue depleting the soil's nutrients?' The gardener responded, 'Lord, give it one more year, and I will dig around it and give it fertilizer. Maybe it will produce fruit next year; if not, then you can cut it down.'"
The fig tree is a symbol of the same process. The gardener gives the tree a stay of execution. He agrees to go beyond the expected to help the tree to bear fruit. But in order for the tree to be successful in the stay, it must co-operate with the gardener. It must take in the fertilizer. It must force itself to do the thing that it has not been doing. God's desire for each one of us and for every congregation is the same. He wants us to do the things we have been called into. But in order to do that we must repent. We must turn away from our wants and desires and turn to God's way of doing things...God's vision for our lives.
The fig tree's purpose was to produce figs. It had not been doing that. So it had to repent (turn away from being unproductive) and turn towards God's desire for it. If it did not, then it would be cut to the ground. Judgment and grace go hand-in-glove. Judgment without grace is impossible. Grace without judgment is cheap. God is patient with us...he wants what is best for us...he goes beyond the expected to make sure we have every chance. But in the end, he doesn't force himself on us. He pursues us until we repent or until our hearts grow so hard that we can't see him anymore.
Brothers and sisters, that is what Lent helps us do. It helps us repent away from ourselves so that we can repent towards God. He won't give up, but we must do our part too. Until next time...
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Thursday, February 21, 2013
Have Mercy On Us And On The Whole World
We've been in the season of Lent for a little over a week now. On Ash Wednesday we gathered as a faith community to recognize our own mortality and to offer our penitence before our God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When I look at all of the holy days throughout the church calendar there are so many of them that speak to my heart and help to shape me as a Christian and as a pastor. But Ash Wednesday is my favorite.
Ash Wednesday is the beginning of a forty day long fasting period in the Church. Many times you hear the phrase "What did you give up for Lent?" That phrase is a modern day adaptation of the ancient tradition of the Lenten fast. In the early days of the church, the weeks leading up to Easter were used to prepare men and women who desired to join the Church. A part of their commitment to the journey was fasting and prayer. Sponsors of the church would accompany them along the journey by fasting and praying too. Over time, this period of fasting and praying became much wider and almost all people in the congregation would fast and pray in solidarity with the new converts.
The purpose behind all of the fasting and praying was to center the new converts in a Christian life. In the same way, the sponsors (and eventually the entire flock) would also be re-centered around Christ and their commitment to Christian living. That's what I love about Ash Wednesday. It is a counter-cultural move by the Church saying, "We are declaring our allegiance to Christ." On Ash Wednesday we admit that we have messed up. We acknowledge our own sinfulness, both individually and as a congregation. We recognize that we only have one life and we determinedly want to live it according to God's desire for us and not for ourselves.
As a member of the laity I didn't always "get it." I attended Ash Wednesday services and allowed the pastor to smear my forehead with ashes. I was told "from dust you came, to dust you shall return...repent and believe the gospel." I allowed myself to be moved towards a more Christ centered life, but I didn't think beyond myself. I didn't think about the wider community of Christ.
But as a pastor, all of that has changed. There is something humbling about looking my parishioners in the eye and declaring to them that they are mortal. There is something deeply emotional about extolling them to repent and to believe the gospel. Each time that I smudge a person with those former palm branches, it's a sacred moment. I feel a connection to the person that I don't feel at other times. Perhaps it's through our shared repentance, our communal declarations of unfaithfulness, that our spirits are connected. I can't put into words what I feel, but I know that God is meeting us individually and corporately in those ashes.
A few months ago I heard a song played on EWTN that intrigued me. I heard it a few more times after that. It was such a beautiful song that I began to research what it was. I finally discovered that the song I had been hearing is a prayer that had been put to music. It is the prayer known as the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. This song is the epitome of the Lenten journey. The words of the song cry out to God to remember the body and blood of Christ and because of his sacrifice to "have mercy on us and on the whole world." You see, Lent is not about us. It is about sacrifice, fasting, prayer, re-centering...essentially it is about God and our relationship with him.
That's why I love Ash Wednesday and Lent. It not only focuses me as an individual, it also focuses my entire faith community. We recognize that we can do more and be more than we have been. It pushes us to see that Christ's blood was shed for more than our small part of the world. Through Lent I have been praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy as a part of my daily devotion. It's not a short prayer. It is very repetitious. It probably is not suited for everyone. However, I invite you to at least listen to it once. Give yourself about 20 minutes of uninterrupted time where you can feel the presence of God and allow him to focus you outside of yourself. As you hear the repetition, join in the song prayer.
Whatever you are doing during this season of Lent, may the LORD bless that endeavor. I sincerely hope that God uses this season of fasting to recenter each one of us for ministry, discipleship, and spiritual growth. Until next time...
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The purpose behind all of the fasting and praying was to center the new converts in a Christian life. In the same way, the sponsors (and eventually the entire flock) would also be re-centered around Christ and their commitment to Christian living. That's what I love about Ash Wednesday. It is a counter-cultural move by the Church saying, "We are declaring our allegiance to Christ." On Ash Wednesday we admit that we have messed up. We acknowledge our own sinfulness, both individually and as a congregation. We recognize that we only have one life and we determinedly want to live it according to God's desire for us and not for ourselves.
As a member of the laity I didn't always "get it." I attended Ash Wednesday services and allowed the pastor to smear my forehead with ashes. I was told "from dust you came, to dust you shall return...repent and believe the gospel." I allowed myself to be moved towards a more Christ centered life, but I didn't think beyond myself. I didn't think about the wider community of Christ.
But as a pastor, all of that has changed. There is something humbling about looking my parishioners in the eye and declaring to them that they are mortal. There is something deeply emotional about extolling them to repent and to believe the gospel. Each time that I smudge a person with those former palm branches, it's a sacred moment. I feel a connection to the person that I don't feel at other times. Perhaps it's through our shared repentance, our communal declarations of unfaithfulness, that our spirits are connected. I can't put into words what I feel, but I know that God is meeting us individually and corporately in those ashes.
A few months ago I heard a song played on EWTN that intrigued me. I heard it a few more times after that. It was such a beautiful song that I began to research what it was. I finally discovered that the song I had been hearing is a prayer that had been put to music. It is the prayer known as the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. This song is the epitome of the Lenten journey. The words of the song cry out to God to remember the body and blood of Christ and because of his sacrifice to "have mercy on us and on the whole world." You see, Lent is not about us. It is about sacrifice, fasting, prayer, re-centering...essentially it is about God and our relationship with him.
Whatever you are doing during this season of Lent, may the LORD bless that endeavor. I sincerely hope that God uses this season of fasting to recenter each one of us for ministry, discipleship, and spiritual growth. Until next time...
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Thursday, February 7, 2013
The Rest Of The Story...
When I was a kid, my parents would listen to country music on the radio. These were the days of the Oak Ridge Boys, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, and Alabama. While I remember listening to many of those country songs when we would be in the car, that's not what I loved most about those country stations. If we happened to be in the car at noon or about 3:00 in the afternoon a familiar voice would come across the airwaves. It was a comforting voice. Since both of my grandfathers had died before I was born, I imagined that the man on the other side of the radio was what a grandfather sounded like. He was trustworthy, dependable, and so full of brilliant wisdom. That man was none other than Paul Harvey.
One of my favorite things that he would do was his "rest of the story." I'm sure you all remember that segment. He would find some well-known event, person, or place and then tell some interesting background about it. Many times as he told the story, I would sit quietly trying to figure out what the rest of the story was before he finished. I felt like a detective, actively piecing together the clues in order to solve the case.
Sometimes when I read through Scripture, I wish I could hear Paul Harvey's voice come across and tell me the rest of the story. I came across one of those passages this week while I was preparing for my sermon. In St. Luke 9, there is an interesting commentary from the writer about Herod. Tucked away between a story about Jesus sending out the twelve on a mission trip and a story about Jesus feeding 5,000 men is an odd paragraph consisting of three verses. "Now Herod the ruler heard about all that had taken place, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the ancient prophets had arisen. Herod said, 'John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?' And he tried to see him."
When I read those words, I wondered why Jesus wouldn't go see Herod. After all, if Herod is the ruler of Judea, wouldn't it have been beneficial to have him on Jesus' side? Couldn't Jesus go in for an afternoon and visit with this man? Why wouldn't Jesus go up to the palace and heal a couple of sick folks, drive out a few demons, and maybe even transfigure himself right there? Then Herod would believe and the people would actually be better off.
But since I had a sermon to prepare, I really didn't have time to contemplate this short passage too long and I moved forward. In the midst of my studying about the transfiguration of Christ and the implication of that transfiguration on both his early disciples and on us, it hit me. The rest of the story started to form my understanding of why Jesus did what he did. In verses 37-43a, Jesus casts out a demon from a boy. After he does so, we are told that "...all were astounded at the greatness of God." The miraculous things that Jesus did pointed to God's greatness, but his power really wasn't found there. God's true power is found in verses 43b and 44, "While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples, 'Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.'"
Real power from God means that you continue to do what's right even in the midst of opposition. Real power from God means that you lower yourself and become a servant of others. Real power from God means that you are willing to be beaten, spat upon, kicked, harmed, and even killed for being a child of God. And real power from God means that you accept all of this because you are filled with joy, peace, patience, kindness, and most importantly love.
So while miracles, wonders, and signs point to God, they are not the end all of who God is. God is more completely found in the everyday. He is in the welcoming of strangers. He is in the care for the sick. He is in the humility of his people. He is most certainly in the poor, the prisoner, the naked, and the thirsty. That's why Jesus didn't go see Herod; there was no reason to. Jesus knew his mission and he knew his Father's heart. He didn't need a ruler's approval. And now you know the rest of the story...
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Sometimes when I read through Scripture, I wish I could hear Paul Harvey's voice come across and tell me the rest of the story. I came across one of those passages this week while I was preparing for my sermon. In St. Luke 9, there is an interesting commentary from the writer about Herod. Tucked away between a story about Jesus sending out the twelve on a mission trip and a story about Jesus feeding 5,000 men is an odd paragraph consisting of three verses. "Now Herod the ruler heard about all that had taken place, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the ancient prophets had arisen. Herod said, 'John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?' And he tried to see him."
When I read those words, I wondered why Jesus wouldn't go see Herod. After all, if Herod is the ruler of Judea, wouldn't it have been beneficial to have him on Jesus' side? Couldn't Jesus go in for an afternoon and visit with this man? Why wouldn't Jesus go up to the palace and heal a couple of sick folks, drive out a few demons, and maybe even transfigure himself right there? Then Herod would believe and the people would actually be better off.
But since I had a sermon to prepare, I really didn't have time to contemplate this short passage too long and I moved forward. In the midst of my studying about the transfiguration of Christ and the implication of that transfiguration on both his early disciples and on us, it hit me. The rest of the story started to form my understanding of why Jesus did what he did. In verses 37-43a, Jesus casts out a demon from a boy. After he does so, we are told that "...all were astounded at the greatness of God." The miraculous things that Jesus did pointed to God's greatness, but his power really wasn't found there. God's true power is found in verses 43b and 44, "While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples, 'Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.'"
Real power from God means that you continue to do what's right even in the midst of opposition. Real power from God means that you lower yourself and become a servant of others. Real power from God means that you are willing to be beaten, spat upon, kicked, harmed, and even killed for being a child of God. And real power from God means that you accept all of this because you are filled with joy, peace, patience, kindness, and most importantly love.
So while miracles, wonders, and signs point to God, they are not the end all of who God is. God is more completely found in the everyday. He is in the welcoming of strangers. He is in the care for the sick. He is in the humility of his people. He is most certainly in the poor, the prisoner, the naked, and the thirsty. That's why Jesus didn't go see Herod; there was no reason to. Jesus knew his mission and he knew his Father's heart. He didn't need a ruler's approval. And now you know the rest of the story...
Print Page
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